Outline of Hot
Water Heating Costs
The heating of water
is a complex business and made all the more complex by players
with a vested interest.
Energy charges are
often not displayed in an obvious place or at all by some
suppliers.
Different charges
often apply at different times of the day and affect users
differently depending on the amout of hot water used. For
example if a supplier charges a night rate and you use up
all your hot water during the day, and need some, you will
be charged the peak electric rate.
Often the type of
hot water system used is not dictated by cost but by the amount
you need. Electric water heaters have difficulty generating
lots of hot water. The way to get around this is lots of storage,
but with the disadvantage of heat loss in the cylinder.
Solar water heating heats water free exept at night and during
cloudy weather. Another way to generate more hot water is
change the energy source to gas. Gas is more expensive
for small quantities due to another line charge eg $3600 over
ten years. If the night rate for electricity can be used savings
ca n be made. . The disadvantage of the electric night
rate is that it can only heat one tank of hot water unless
you are planning to live at night.
Heap Pump water
heaters are here now and the heating cost is one third of
the normal electrical cost. eg if you were paying $120 for
water now with electric. Using a heat pump will cost $40.00.
Thats a saving of $960 per year. If you get rid of the gas
meter and put the hob on LPG thats another $360 per
year on top of that.
Conclusion
Use electricity
for small users.
Use Natural Gas
for large users of hot water and go the whole way adding cooking
and heating to take advantage of the lower kilowatt cost of
Natural Gas for heating to offset the added line charge.
Dont use LPG unless
you absolutely have to. At 12 cents a kilowatt its not as
expensive as electricity but then you have to take account
of the lesser efficiency of burning gas for flued type appliances
which would make it more expensive. Buying LPG for heating
from petrol stations would be more expensive again. Cheaper
with electric and more convienient too.
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